Originally Posted by
UIUCpilot85
The government runs nothing efficiently? You have to be kidding me. Why not privatize the police? Why not the fire department too? Isn't our military technically the government? Why not let the market decide what is an acceptable price for public protection. You're telling me NASA is an ad-hoc operation?
The idea that the market handles EVERYTHING better is ludicrous at best. Yes, generally, businesses are more efficient than the government. Yes, there are governmental institutions that are corrupt and inept. But, can you honestly watch CNN/FOX/MSNBC and truthfully believe that the economic models of countless banks, the big 3 automakers, and others have been operating on sound priniciples?
Now, I'm no governmental scholar, but I hardly think having rules constitutes socialism. I'm inclined to agree that regulation such as it was pre-1978 isn't good for the public or the industry. I do think, however, that a structured system of some sort operated under the principles of free enterprise with an abundance of competition is advantageous in comparison to the wild-west-last-man-standing mentality. Clearly, that has "been time and time again proven to run nothing efficiently"
These things you mention have already started privatizing. Heard of Blackwater? And to put a fine point on these specific things....they don't run efficiently at all. I am involved in government work and it is the most innefficient monster of all. The only thing it does well is kill people and break things. But it doesn't do it cheaply. We just burn through tax dollars like they are firewood bundles. And there already is a price on protection etc. Just like there is a price for someones life. If there were no limits, every airliner would have all the same safest, most expensive, modern safety implements available. They don't. Of course everything has a price. At some point, the firemen leave the burning building and go back to there 1995 model firetruck...why not the newest? Everything has a price government or not.
I agree with all of your points except the above one mentioned. I am not convinced that the gov't regulation is the same as the gov't running it. The public now has bad service from 100 different airlines. Before they had descent service from 10 airlines...They're paying for it either way.